Two key Michigan Congressmen question FDA’s plan to outsource more than 300 jobs

WASHINGTON Two House Democrats, Reps. John Dingell and Bart Stupack, both Michigan Democrats, are investigating the Food and Drug Administration’s plan to consider outsourcing more than 300 jobs.

Dingell and Stupak sent a letter Friday to the FDA, requesting all documents connected with the agency’s plan to consider contracting 322 jobs to private companies.

In a statement, the congressmen called the plan “hasty and injudicious” and said the FDA should wait for the recommendations of the Import Safety Working Group formed last month by the White House.

“It is truly incomprehensible why the agency would again consider reducing the expertise and institutional knowledge of the FDA at a time when FDA’s credibility with the American people is at an all-time low,” said the statement from Dingel, chairman of the House Committee on Energy, and Stupak, who chairs its subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

FDA spokesman Christopher Kelly said the agency will remain “committed to our dedicated work force and continue to improve operational efficiency directed at protecting the health and safety of the American public.” He said that the FDA is reviewing the letter and plans on responding shortly.

The FDA has reported that their list of outsourced jobs includes only administrative jobs that aren’t directly involved in safety inspections.

Teva receives final FDA approval for generic Famvir, but will delay marketing until patent hearing

JERUSALEM Teva Pharmaceuticals has been granted final approval on its application to market famciclovir, the generic version of Novartis’ Famvir in the 125, 250 and 500mgs.

Now with the approval from the Food and Drug Administration, Teva is also awarded a 180-day period of market exclusivity. But the company will hold off marketing the item until at least Sept. 5, 2007.

On that day, a hearing will be held involving a patent infringement suit brought against Teva regarding the famciclovir. The hearing is scheduled to meet at the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey regarding Novartis’ motion for a preliminary injunction. Therefore, both parties have agreed to not launch a generic version of Famvir until after the hearing.

Forest, Daiichi Sankyo sign agreement for Azor

NEW YORK Forest Laboratories and Daiichi Sankyo have signed a co-promotional agreement for Daiichi Sankyo’s new antihypertension drug Azor. Azor is a combination of the calcium channel blocker amlodipine besylate and the angiotensin receptor blocker olmesartan medoxomil.

Under the agreement, Forest will pay Daiichi Sankyo an upfront payment of $20 million and will receive a payment based upon product sales. The agreement is for three years, after which, Daiichi Sankyo will make residual payments to Forest.

The drug is still under review by the Food and Drug Administration with a decision expected by late September. Hypertension affects roughly 72 million people in the U.S., with about 65 percent of those diagnosed having trouble keeping it under control.

RELATED NEWS

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic of Hoffman-La Roche’s Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) capsules from Lupin. The company’s generic will be available in 30-, 45- and 75-mg dosage strengths.
The product is inficated to treat acute, uncomplicated influenza A and B in patients 2 weeks of age and older, as well as to prevent influenza A and B in patients 1 year old and older. The drug had U.S. sales of roughly $467.8 million for the 12 months ended October 2017, according to IQVIA data.

Behavioral health pharmacy and telepsychiatry company Genoa, a QoL Healthcare Company, has reached a big number with its remote psychiatry offering. The Tukwila, Wash.-based company announced Tuesday that it had facilitated more than 100,000 telepsych consultations on its video conferencing platform.
Genoa attributes the milestone to its recent buildup of its telepsychiatry operations, which grew to include 35 in 2017 from 20 at the start of the year, and included 250 providers. In 2017, the company grew to serve more than 2,500 patients per week.

This year's flu continues to be Texas big, according to the Walgreens Flu Index released Wednesday, as the top 10 communities experiencing the greatest amount of flu incidence were all located in the Lone Star State for the week ended Jan. 6.
Iowa, Idaho and Arkansas rank behind Texas in terms of flu activity. And Montana, Idaho and Iowa ranked highest among states experiencing flu activity gains.

Amneal Biosciences has launched its generic of Otsuka’s Busulfex (busulfan injection, 6 mg/ml). The product is indicated to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Amneal said that its generic is available in cartons of eight single-dose vials, each of which contains 60 mg of the drug in a 10-ml clear sterile solution. The product is made without natural rubber, latex, gluten or preservatives, Amneal said.
The drug had U.S. sales of roughly $80 million for the 12 months ended October 2017, according to data from IQVIA.

Amneal Pharmaceuticals has launched sevelamer carbonate tablets, 800 mg, in 270-count bottles. This generic from the Bridgewater, N.J.-based company is an AB-rated therapeutic equivalent to Renvela.
Amneal also launched five other products in addition to sevelamer carbonate:

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